Toronto native Raddysh loses bet, wears Team USA jersey to Lightning practice

If you want to dance, you have to pay the band. And if you want to pick against the Olympic gold medal winners, you have to wear their jersey at practice afterward, as the saying goes.

Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Darren Raddysh, a native of Toronto, made a friendly wager, it seems. When asked for his pick he said that Canada would defeat the United States in the men's hockey gold medal game at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Sunday.

The United States won an epic game, easily one of the best ever played in Olympic men's ice hockey history, 2-1 behind Jack Hughes' Golden Goal in overtime and Connor Hellebuyck's 41 saves.

Raddysh was playfully shamed by the team on social media, with a video of his pick followed by footage of him participating at Sunday's practice wearing a Team USA jersey.

The defenseman, currently having a career-best season with 52 points (17 goals, 35 assists) in 49 games, took it all in stride, smiling his way through warm-ups and drills wearing the unfamiliar sweater.

The Lightning's allegiance as an organization were split in the gold medal game, as so many others were. Forward Jake Guentzel played for Team USA while forward Brandon Hagel played with Canada. Lightning coach Jon Cooper also served as Canada's coach.

Oh well, looks like Raddysh will have to wait at least four years to get some payback.